Chapter 68 – Hunting and Danger Approaches

Standing on the Abyssal Wastelands, Punk surveyed his surroundings, carefully ensuring no demons would suddenly appear and launch an attack. Only then did he casually use a minor spell to disperse the unpleasant crimson dust around him.

Punk now felt somewhat lightheaded, and a violent emotion seemed to be slowly accumulating. As a formal mage, this situation was virtually unheard of, so the only explanation was that the Abyss’s corruption had already begun. No one dared to underestimate this seemingly insignificant yet gradual erosion—this essence of evil and chaos could completely alter a creature’s mind without them realizing it. At Punk’s current level, merely staying in this place for over three months would be enough for even the relatively low-level corruption of the Abyssal Wastelands to drive him utterly insane!

“This is definitely not a place to linger.”

Punk frowned and resolutely decided that, regardless of the outcome of this trip—even if he gained nothing—he must return in two hours.

In fact, the demon density in the Abyssal Wastelands was quite high. Almost without waiting more than ten minutes, Punk spotted a Vrock flying toward him from a distance, its eyes glowing red.

Vrocks were a type of demon in the Abyss with relatively low-tier power. They had slender but spike-covered bodies, irregular jagged teeth, twisted and asymmetrical limbs, and a pair of dry, tattered wings attached to their bodies. In the Abyss, Vrocks were undoubtedly considered small-sized demons, but this “small” was relative to those enormous demons. Standing eight feet tall and weighing around four hundred pounds, they were already large monsters for most humanoid races—even a transformed werewolf was only slightly taller than eight feet.

Although these creatures were large, most Vrocks only possessed Apprentice Rank strength. Their methods of attack were also quite ordinary, simply diving from the sky to strike with claws and teeth imbued with a trace of Abyssal energy. For a formal mage like Punk, they couldn’t even break through the most basic Deflection Field defense.

Generally, any creature with a shred of reason would choose to flee when faced with an utterly unbeatable enemy. But as a Vrock that knew no fear, it lunged at Punk without hesitation—no reason, no defense, purely driven by the desire to fight.

Punk was somewhat speechless. Watching the foolish Vrock charge straight at him without even veering, he calmly tossed a paralysis potion. With the System adjusting its trajectory, the potion flew accurately toward the Vrock, which didn’t dodge or evade, instead crashing directly into the bottle filled with paralysis potion…

And then… there was no “and then”…The previously aggressive Vrock immediately plummeted from the sky. The Apprentice-Level paralysis potion brewed by a certified mage was far beyond what this mere Apprentice Rank lower demon could withstand. Drenched head to toe in a massive dose of the potion, the demon collapsed to the ground, completely immobilized. Even in this state, it desperately strained its muscles, attempting to charge forward and continue fighting, while repeatedly striking intimidating poses to showcase its “terror.”However, a ‘large bat’ convulsing on the ground had very limited deterrent power!”

Punk calmly summoned an Apprentice-Level iron cage composed of magical energy, cast Mage Hand, and tossed the “Parkinson’s”-afflicted Vrock into the cage like a chick. Although the Apprentice-Level “Lesser Arcane Prison” wasn’t particularly resilient, it was more than sufficient to contain a Vrock that couldn’t even move.

The process of capturing demons turned out to be unexpectedly simple and effortless for Punk. After standing here for about an hour, he had already caught four Vrocks, five Dretches, and two cunning demons. These demons were either unconscious or convulsing incessantly as Punk stuffed them into the cage. However, this was only temporary. If he left a group of demons crowded together in one cage, Punk was certain that once the effects of the Magic Potion wore off, these creatures would immediately launch relentless attacks on their “cellmates.” Demons never considered whether they could escape; they simply attacked everything in sight indiscriminately!

Seeing that the cage was now full, even though it was a full hour earlier than Punk had planned, he decided to return ahead of schedule. For some reason, a faint sense of danger emerged in Punk’s mind. Whether it was a genuine warning from his soul due to impending danger or confusion caused by the Abyss’s erosion affecting his soul’s perception, Punk had no intention of staying any longer. He had already obtained enough materials; there was no need to continue “sightseeing” in this damned place…

Slowly turning around, he walked step by step toward the portal, his heavy footsteps leaving one imprint after another in the dust-covered plains. Just as the portal seemed within reach, Punk halted…

In Punk’s furrowed brow, this “portal” felt indescribably incongruous! Moreover, if he remembered correctly, he had cleared the dust from the path he had taken earlier. Even though the Abyssal Wastelands were filled with drifting dust everywhere, it shouldn’t have covered his cleared path so quickly.

Without much hesitation, Punk quickly retreated, simultaneously casting a well-practiced True Seeing on himself at the fastest speed. As Punk stepped back, the “portal” abruptly and rapidly closed in on him!

In the vision of True Seeing, the originally colorful and glowing portal began to twist and deform. The gentle, colorful light turned murky and crimson, accompanied by a strong foul odor that wafted over.Finally, the beautiful “portal” completely vanished, replaced by a massive maw filled with scattered fangs. Its owner was charging toward Punk while roaring with savage fury.

“Damn it”!!

Punk couldn’t help but curse aloud. Enhanced by True Seeing, he had seen through the surrounding illusion—the real portal was already some distance away from him. That eerie “portal” from earlier was actually the gaping mouth of this demon before him!

Having thoroughly studied demonic lore, Punk immediately recognized the enormous demon ambushing him as a glabrezu!

The glabrezu possessed sharp violet eyes and dark brown-and-black mottled skin. Its shell, covered in fierce bone spikes, provided considerable defensive capability. Then there were its four filthy, razor-sharp claws, wreathed in Abyssal energy far surpassing that of ordinary vrocks. Standing at a full 15 feet tall and weighing 5,500 pounds, even among demons, its size delivered overwhelming pressure!

Watching the massive demon pounce toward him, Punk simultaneously activated various auxiliary means to cast Greater Swiftness on himself—a spell that would allow his speed to surpass sound—while calmly retrieving information about glabrezus from his memory:

Among the numerous demon species, glabrezus were relatively unique. They preferred deception over direct combat. But once their temptations and tricks failed, they would immediately fly into humiliated rage and launch fierce, terrifying attacks!

Most would first close in on opponents to cast “confusion.” Enemies hit by this innate spell would fall into a state of chaotic disorientation. Then the glabrezu would employ two highly lethal attacks—Chaos Hammer and Unholy Strike—to finish off their opponents and end the battle.

“What a troublesome enemy”!

Punk was already somewhat regretting his decision to “court death” by coming to the Abyss. But there was no time for self-reflection now. He swiftly dodged the glabrezu’s biting attack, tumbling across the blood-dust-covered ground to quickly create distance from the enormous demon. The magical glow in his eyes shimmered with rapidly spinning purple sparks!

(End of Chapter)